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The European Parliament Plenary is expected to discuss and adopt the
2010 Progress Report on Turkey in March.

The Report was adopted yesterday by the European Parliaments Committee
on Foreign Affairs and among other provisions it contains several
references to Cyprus, calling on Ankara to withdraw its occupation
troops from Cyprus, stop the influx of illegal Turkish settlers in
Cyprus northern areas it occupies since 1974 and allow access to
military areas for the exhumation of remains of missing persons,
believed to be buried there.

According to an official announcement issued here today, the Report
underlines that the UNCLOS that is signed by the 27 Member States, the
EU and all the other candidate countries, is part of the acquis
communautaire and calls on the government (Ankara) to sign and ratify
this Convention without further delay

It also calls on the Turkish government and all concerned parties to
actively support the ongoing negotiations, to contribute in concrete
terms to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue and on the
Turkish government to facilitate a suitable climate for negotiations by
immediately starting to withdraw its forces from Cyprus

In addition it strongly urges the two communities in Cyprus to work
intensively as asked for by the SG of the UN to capitalise on the
progress already made in the negotiations in order to reach a
sustainable solution, in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions, and
promoting, in particular, Resolution 550(1984), and the principles on
which the EU is founded, to the benefit of the Cypriot citizens, the EU
and Turkey.

UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to
settle any part of the Turkish occupied town of Varosha (the fenced off
area of Famagusta) by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible
and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the
UN.

Famagusta was captured by the advancing Turkish troops during the
second phase of the Turkish invasion, in mid August 1974. Since then,
it has remained sealed off, under the control of the Turkish military.

The Report also encourages Turkey to intensify its support for the
Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, in particular by facilitating
its access to military zones and archives and to take all other
appropriate action, in accordance with the findings of the ECHR, on the
humanitarian issue of the missing persons.

It further calls on Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot authorities to
refrain from any new settlements of Turkish citizens on the island as
this would continue to change the demographic balance and reduce the
allegiance of its citizens to a future common state on the basis of its
common past.

An additional mention on this issue calls on Turkey to address the
issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens (settlers) on the island in
accordance with the Geneva Convention and the principles of
International Law.

The report also contains a strong reference to the non implementation
by Turkey of the Additional Protocol to its Association Agreement with
the EU and deplores the fact that the Additional Protocol to the EC
Turkey Association Agreement has still not been implemented by Turkey,
which continues to affect the process of negotiations; calls on the
government to fully implement it.

On the subject of energy it takes note of the progress achieved by
Turkey on the energy chapter and urges the Council once again to open
negotiations on this chapter without any further delay.

However it also calls on the Turkish government to step up its efforts
in negotiations on joining the Energy Community Treaty; welcomes the
ratification of the Nabucco Intergovernmental Agreement; and the
signing of the memorandum of understanding for the operation of the
ITGI natural gas pipeline, both of them important projects for the
energy security of the EU.

Finally it appreciates Turkey`s constructive engagement supporting the
efforts of the transatlantic partners in Afghanistan and in the
Balkans; regrets however that NATO-EU strategic cooperation beyond the
Berlin Plus arrangements is blocked by Turkish objections.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third. As a result of the invasion, 1619 Greek Cypriots
were listed as missing, most of whom soldiers or reservists, who were
captured in the battlefield. The number of Turkish Cypriots missing
since 1974 and 1963/64 stands at 503.

A constant stream of illegal Turkish settlers have been arriving in
Cyprus since 1975 and are now estimated to be well over 100,000. Turkey
does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to comply with EU
decisions relating to Cyprus, with regard to Ankaras accession
negotiations.

President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim
to reunify the island under a federal roof.

Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Demetris Droutsas will be visiting
Cyprus on February 14, to discuss developments in the Cyprus problem
and the next steps in the process for a solution. Droutsas is expected
to be received by President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and to
meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou.

On February 17, Droutsas will be flying to New York for a meeting with
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. On their agenda will be the Cyprus
problem, developments in the Middle East and the issue of the name of
FYROM.

In view of his meetings, Droutsas met in Athens with the UN Secretary
General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer, to hear his views
and assessment concerning the Cyprus problem.

According to Spokesman for the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Gregoris Delavekouras, the purpose of Droutsas` meetings is to discuss
the Cyprus problem and express Athens` concern over the slow pace of
the talks for a settlement and the absence of any will on the Turkish
Cypriot side for substantive talks.

Members of the Organisation «Volunteer Doctors Cyprus» are currently
in Kenya, offering children in need valuable medical assistance as well
as presents from their Cypriot foster parents.

More than 600 children participate in a programme the Organisation
manages to find foster parents for them, while 80 more children will
soon be added, since there is great interest from Cypriots to adopt
them.

In statements to CNA from Kenya, member of the Organisation, photo
reporter and CNA photographer, Katia Christodoulou, said that education
in Kenya is not free, adding that via the programme and the donations
of Cypriots, Kenyan children can afford to go to school, where they are
offered food.

Children go to school because food offered there is an incentive for
them. By this, they are given the opportunity to education, which they
would not have had otherwise, since education in Kenya is not free, she
pointed out.

Christodoulou said that doctors and nurses of the Volunteer Doctors -
Cyprus examined the children at the medical center, which the
Organisation set up six years ago. The medical center includes a
microbiology laboratory, dental facilities and a pediatric ward.
Salaries of the local doctors who work there are paid by the
Organisation through the donations of the Cypriot people.